shamefaced

Where does the word "shamefaced" come from? It comes from Old English sceamfæst, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).

Shamefaced’s story begins in Old English: sceamfæst meant “modest.” 'held fast by shame', i.e. modest, built like 'steadfast'. It reached English by 1550s as shamefaced. 'shamefast' was reinterpreted as if it described a shamed face; the 1611 King James Bible has women adorning themselves 'with shamefastnesse', which later printings changed to 'shamefacedness'. Today, shamefaced means showing shame or embarrassment.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · medieval sceamfæst "modest", 'held fast by shame', i.e. modest, built like 'steadfast'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1550s shamefaced "showing shame", 'shamefast' was reinterpreted as if it described a shamed face; the 1611 King James Bible has women adorning themselves 'with shamefastnesse', which later printings changed to 'shamefacedness'.